Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

The Beating

"I saw the kid at the weigh in. He looks pretty banged up for having only 10 fights,"I said to Harry the promoter who was putting the show on in the hotel's conference room.
"Oh,he's a tough kid,but he can dish it out as well as he can take it,"said Harry the promoter chomping on his cigar.
"He can't be more than twenty ,"I said.
"He's nineteen,but he can take it,"said Harry adjusting his tie.
They were going to put this kid against Hafey who was waiting to get a title shot with Olivares up in Los Angeles. Emery wanted Art to get some work in before he they went to LA. Harry put this together for them at the old San Diego Coliseum.
"Where's this kid from?"I asked.
"Somewhere near Villahermosa.Wherever that is"
"Has he ever fought outside of Mexico?"
"No,this is his first time in the U.S.He had some difficulty with his visa."
I knew Harry didn't shell out a nickel for the kid to get up here and if he couldn't get his papers in order Harry wouldn't be out nothing. He'd just get another set up guy.
"How many of those ten fights did he win?"I asked Harry.
"Oh,he's undefeated.He's a big draw from where he's from.He'll make Art work. It's just what Art needs."

The fight was the main event on the Tuesday night card. Hafey had a big following in San Diego. He'd knocked out Olivares in Monterrey with a left hook to the body that sent Ruben's mouth piece flying across the ring. Like I said the rematch was going to be at the Forum.The belt would be on the line. Ruben was going to train hard for this one. Burke wanted a tune up for his guy.

The Coliseum was packed to the doors that night.It was hot and sweaty in that old building and Hafey had everyone behind him. The Mexican kid climbed through the ropes first. He had a bath towel draped over his shoulders. He didn't get much of a reaction. When Hafey walked out of the locker room, the crowd got excited. They cheered wildly as he was announced to the crowd. At the gong,the fighters touched gloves and circled around each other. Art then moved forward and started to dip his shoulder wanting to throw the hook. That's all Art really had,but his hook ,I thought, was the best in the division at the time. Even better than Ruben's. Arguello would come along later and knock out both Ruben and Art,but Alex was a more diversified puncher.

Finally Art threw caution to the wind and just wound up with the hook. The punch landed on the kid's forearm,but you could hear him make a noise. Art backed him up against the ropes and started winging on him. The crowd stood up.As the crowd stood,the kid sagged through the ropes. Rustich gave him a mandatory eight count. The kid was wide eyed looking at Hafey across the ring.After looking at the kid and wiping his gloves on his shirt, Rustich motioned the kid foreward.Art tapped him on the side with the left. The the kid lowered his right glove and then Art threw the hook again. This time with everything behind it. The punch caught the kid flush on the jaw. He was uncinscious before he hit the canvas.Rustich didn't even start a count. The crowd was standing going crazy.It ended the way everyone wanted.

About a week later I went to the Coliseum.I saw Harry the promoter standing on the ring apron watching a couple of boys sparring.
"Well ,"said to him. "I guess that Mexican got his first loss on his record."
"Who's that?" he asked looking around.
"You know the kid from Mexico that lost to Hafey."
"Oh,that guy. You know he asked me for bus fare to go back to Mexico."
"And what did you say?"
"I told him I'd have to deduct it from his purse."

[dagosd2000]

Teo Cruz after being stopped by Mando Ramos at the Olympic Audtorium in Los Angeles.

[Chuck1052]

Roger, I saw Art Hafey take a terrible beating from Danny "Little Red" Lopez in person at the Forum in Inglewood during the middle 1970s. To this day, I can't understand why Hafey's corner didn't make an effort to get the fight stopped sooner.

- Chuck Johnston

[dagosd2000]

Roger, I saw Art Hafey take a terrible beating from Danny "Little Red" Lopez in person at the Forum in Inglewood during the middle 1970s. To this day, I can't understand why Hafey's corner didn't make an effort to get the fight stopped sooner.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck,Burke Emery,who used to handle Art,is as far as I know is in a rest home. When I last talked to him about Hafey,he was in the stages of dementia.He wasn't making a lot of sense. Hafey said that he was hurt going into that fight with Lopez and continued to have physical problems till the end of career. Burke took some big risks with Hafey having him fight Arguello in Nicaragua and Olivares in Mexico not to mention he had a hurt fighter. Burke was kind of insensitive to things.

Here's an interesting story. Burke was dating this gal when her son was killed in an automobile accident. The woman had a difficult time coping with this. Burke, from what I heard,didn't want to deal with her grieving and left her.

Burke Emery had a very rough life growing up.Sympathy was one of those things I don't think was much in his make up or he wouldn't have survived .

[Chuck1052]

Roger, I noticed that Art Hafey was bothered greatly by Danny Lopez's height advantage (Lopez- 5' 7-1/2" Hafey- 5' 2"). Keeping that in mind, Alexis Arguello was 5' 10" and, like Lopez, a terrific puncher. According to Hafey's record on BoxRec, Arguello and Lopez were the only fighters who stopped him. At the same time, Hafey was very competitive with Ruben Olivares, who was 5' 5-1/2" and a bantamweight during his prime years.

Also according to his record on BoxRec, Hafey's last bout was with Lopez. Hafey was only twenty-five years old at the time. I wonder if his career would have lasted longer under different circumstances.

- Chuck Johnston

[dagosd2000]

Roger, I noticed that Art Hafey was bothered greatly by Danny Lopez's height advantage (Lopez- 5' 7-1/2" Hafey- 5' 2"). Keeping that in mind, Alexis Arguello was 5' 10" and, like Lopez, a terrific puncher. According to Hafey's record on BoxRec, Arguello and Lopez were the only fighters who stopped him. At the same time, Hafey was very competitive with Ruben Olivares, who was 5' 5-1/2" and a bantamweight during his prime years.

Also according to his record on BoxRec, Hafey's last bout was with Lopez. Hafey was only twenty-five years old at the time. I wonder if his career would have lasted longer under different circumstances.

- Chuck Johnston

The Canadian fighters under Burke Emery and Sid Flahrety(Ronnie Wilson and Art Hafey)who boxed out of San Diego were exploited in a sense because the Eatons and Parnassuses looked at them as set ups for the big name fighters under their management. If Wilson and Hafey would have been connected up in LA it might have been a little better. Wilson was a bleeder who lacked a punch,but could box very well. He fought too many times not letting his cuts heal properly and took some bad beatings.Also he couldn't get by Mike Quarry who later got a title shot.Hafey was suffering from nerve damage and shouldn't have been fighting at the end. I remember Burke Emery saying that it was Parnassus who wanted Hafey to take the fight with Arguello in Nicaragua. Nobody looked out for these guys.

[dagosd2000]

Eddie Futch

[El Gallo]

Rog . . . Tiger, his wife, Prince & the baby will be attending El Boxeo!
We are on the cover of Santa Monica Magazine with a four page feature story.
I'll send you the cover & copy!
Randy & Jeri will be there, like old times.
"El Boxeo"!!

[dagosd2000]

Rog . . . Tiger, his wife, Prince & the baby will be attending El Boxeo!
We are on the cover of Santa Monica Magazine with a four page feature story.
I'll send you the cover & copy!
Randy & Jeri will be there, like old times.
"El Boxeo"!!

Great! I'll be going to the gym today. Haven't seen Tiger since I've been back. See you all up there. Rog

[dagosd2000]

Tommy Morrison near the end of his life

[dagosd2000]

One Good Deed

"She should know that that's against the law,"said the check out lady to the bag girl.
"The old lady wanted to give me a tip for helping me put her groceries in the car,"said the bag girl.
I was next in line to be rung up at the checkout counter when I heard this discussion. The checkout lady curled her lip.
"That's against the law,"she repeated."We can't accept tips."
"The old lady just drove off and didn't say anything,"said the bag girl.I told her I couldn't take the money."
I was at the register now with my purchases. A bottle of vinegar and a bottle of chocolate milk.
"There should be a sign in here saying 'no tipping allowed'",said the checkout lady.
Her hands were wrinkled and I noticed every finger on both of her hands had on a gaudy ring. Her lipstick was a bright red and her eyebrows were painted a dark black. She finished ringing me up and looked down at the counter.
"How much is it?"I asked. I could see the total on the screen.
"4 forty eight. You want your stuff in a bag?"
For a moment I thought about how kids in Mexico wait at the checkout counter bagging groceries for tips.
"Put the vinegar in the bag.I'll drink the chocolate milk outside."

[El Gallo]

Roger, I noticed that Art Hafey was bothered greatly by Danny Lopez's height advantage (Lopez- 5' 7-1/2" Hafey- 5' 2"). Keeping that in mind, Alexis Arguello was 5' 10" and, like Lopez, a terrific puncher. According to Hafey's record on BoxRec, Arguello and Lopez were the only fighters who stopped him. At the same time, Hafey was very competitive with Ruben Olivares, who was 5' 5-1/2" and a bantamweight during his prime years.

Also according to his record on BoxRec, Hafey's last bout was with Lopez. Hafey was only twenty-five years old at the time. I wonder if his career would have lasted longer under different circumstances.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck, Hafey was partially paralyzed after the Lopez fight. Danny beat him up badly. I was three rows back that night in 1976, sitting right next to Bobby Chacon & Valerie. Art suffered from Thompson's Disease from birth, but it was a little known fact. He had difficulty moving his head, etc. I worked quite a few brutal rounds with Art, and many, many more with Danny. Art was a good fighter. He caught Olivares out of shape the first time, and was lucky he never fought Chacon. Danny did a number on him, inflicting a career ending injury. Had that not happened, Art might be talking to himself these days. Getting out early, Art is as sharp as can be, a great man. -Rick Farris

[Chuck1052]

Roger, I noticed that Art Hafey was bothered greatly by Danny Lopez's height advantage (Lopez- 5' 7-1/2" Hafey- 5' 2"). Keeping that in mind, Alexis Arguello was 5' 10" and, like Lopez, a terrific puncher. According to Hafey's record on BoxRec, Arguello and Lopez were the only fighters who stopped him. At the same time, Hafey was very competitive with Ruben Olivares, who was 5' 5-1/2" and a bantamweight during his prime years.

Also according to his record on BoxRec, Hafey's last bout was with Lopez. Hafey was only twenty-five years old at the time. I wonder if his career would have lasted longer under different circumstances.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck, Hafey was partially paralyzed after the Lopez fight. Danny beat him up badly. I was three rows back that night in 1976, sitting right next to Bobby Chacon & Valerie. Art suffered from Thompson's Disease from birth, but it was a little known fact. He had difficulty moving his head, etc. I worked quite a few brutal rounds with Art, and many, many more with Danny. Art was a good fighter. He caught Olivares out of shape the first time, and was lucky he never fought Chacon. Danny did a number on him, inflicting a career ending injury. Had that not happened, Art might be talking to himself these days. Getting out early, Art is as sharp as can be, a great man. -Rick Farris

Rick, I also was sitting close to the action. Jimmy McLarnin and a fellow who looked like Mushy Callahan were sitting in the next row behind me. McLarnin warned me that he might get excited during the bout between Danny Lopez and Art Hafey. As it was, both Lopez and Hafey alway came to fight, their bout proving to be no exception on that score.
In fact, many fans felt they saw a fine bout despite the lopsided nature of it.

I am happy to learn that Hafey is doing well after retiring at an early age. Yes, he was a good fighter in addition to having all of the heart in the world.

After seeing a number of former fighters in recent years, I wouldn't be happy to see any of my relatives having ring careers, especially if they can make a good living doing something else. In fact, my nieces and nephews are doing very well in school or on the job for the most part. Yet I still watch boxing on television.

- Chuck Johnston

[dagosd2000]

"Irish" Mickey Ward

[dagosd2000]

Distant Neighbor

"Margarito is my neighbor,"said my granddaughter's husband.My granddaughter,her husband,and three of my great grandchildren were at the pool where we lived at our condominium complex in San Diego.. It was hot and muggy.The water was refreshing and cool. Those kids don't get a chance to get in the water that much in Tijuana.
"I grew up next to him in 'La Villa' and he was always very friendly to my family,"said my granddaughter's husband.
"So he still lives in Colonia Villa?" I asked him.
"Yes,he still lives next to my father's house."
"You think he'd move to a higher end neighborhood."
I wanted to catch myself when I said that. Colonia Villa is a nice neighborhood west of Tijuana,but I thought with the money he made in the ring he would have moved up in class.
"He's used to it. 'La Villa' isn't what it used to be,but he feels comfortable there."
"Doesn't he have a gym there?"
"Yes.A few years ago I went there to learn how to box,but those guys in there beat me up pretty good."
"Does he still know you?"
"I'm sure he does,but he doesn't say anything when I wave to him.After he made it big,he never says nothing to my family anymore."
"I used to like him,but after he was busted for using loaded gloves I could care less about him."
"If he fought my son and I knew that he used concrete in his gloves,I'd kill him."
My granddaughter,Erika, is pregnant with her baby that's due in October. She was sitting at the edge of the pool looking at her son that her husband named Erik. He's two years old.
"Abuelito,"Erik said to me as he was floating in his life ring. "Look, I can swim."
As I watched my little great grandson kick his feet ,I was thinking of Antonio Margarito. To think I once had so much admiration for him.

[dagosd2000]

The Catholic church in Colonia Francisco Villa,Tijuana

[dagosd2000]

Francisco Villa

[dagosd2000]

I'll Trade Ya'

On the corner of 3rd and Negrete Streets down a block from Calle Revolution is a guy who sells fish tacos,shrimp tacos,and the consume poured into paper cups .All he's got is a cart and a grill set up on the street. In an ice chest you can grab a soda or you can ask for his fresh squeezed lemonade. That's it.That's all he has to offer.

He opens around nine in the morning and has everything packed away by six o'clock. In back of the sidewalk is a room where he has the fish and the shrimp packed in ice. He told me the fish is shark. I forgot to ask him where he buys it. Maybe Rosarito.

My dentist has an office upstairs on the corner of Madero and 4th Street which is a block and a half away from the fish taco stand. While I'm waiting for my bridge to be fixed or if I'm just in the vicinity,I'll grab lunch at that stand. There's a couple of guys behind the grill frying up thr fish and the shrimp.Just hold out your hand and ask for one or the other and they'll wrap the seafood in a hot corn tortilla with some butcher paper around it and you'll get tacos shoved at you until you say enough. The juice from the fish and shrimp is kept hot in a big pot. If you want the consume they'll pour the juice with a ladle into a paper cup. There's always a few shrimp in the cup with the shells on. In front of the cart are the usual garnishes stacked high. Radishes,onions(diced and whole),jalapenos in vinegar or raw,dried red chiles,salsas red and green in those pebbly stone bowls,cilantro,and slices of limes.

Everytime I pass by there's a big crowd in front of the cart. The guy pays the police so cars can double park in the street. He sells the tacos and soup for a buck twenty five U.S. money. I figure he sells 3 to 5 hundred tacos a day not to mention what he takes in with the drinks.

I kidded him one day and asked if he'd like to trade jobs.He could teach the rebels in my classroom and i would sell tacos. He laughed and shook his head.

Sometimes I think what would happen if I made the switch.No,I was better off in the school. Besides how much were the cartels shaking that guy down to run his business?Think of how much I'd have to shell out being a gringo.

[dagosd2000]

Boxeo Mexicano

Took a drive up to Santa Monica this morning to watch the premier of Alan Swyder's documentary "El Boxeo." Rick Farris comped me and Maria with guest passes. At these boxing events in LA. I see the usual cast of ex fighters: Armando Muniz,"Gato" Gonzalez,Bobby Chacon,Frankie Duarte,Carlos Palomino. It was good to see old pals like Jeri and Randy De La O and Rick's wife Monica. Tiger Smalls made it up there with his son Prince and Tiger's wife and young daughter.

My take on the documentary might have been even more focused on the Mexican fighter. I'm talking about the Mexican national. LA. at one time was a mecca for the local Chicano fighter against the Mexican national. Like some of the comments by the ex Chicano fighters in the film-the crowd whether Chicano or Mexican national always pulled for the native Mexican.

I don't want to get into the obvious facts and records of those fights and careers,but the bottom line is if you erase the Mexican(national and Chicano)from the boxing scene,the sport is finished in this country. Back east the interest is dead. There are no American heavyweights who are making an impact. Mexicans are keeping things going in the boxing world,at least in this country.They are the fighters,the fans at ringside,and the ones shelling out the money to watch it on pay TV. Pay For View would go out of business today if the Mexican boxing fan didn't want to shell out his dough.That's why Floyd Mayweather is getting 41.5 million dollars. He can thank the Mexican audience.

I don't think boxing fans back east are interested seeing two Mexicans fight each other,but eventually that's what it's coming to. How many more fights does Mayweather and Pacquiao have in them?By the way ,who's going to watch PacMan fight Timothy Bradley?

But in a way I'm glad it's this way. Maybe the big time promoters will feel a hit,but they've been part of the problem by diminishing the local fight cards and venues and the all the fights we'd used see on the major networks each week. But Mexicans will find the fights on TV on the obscure cable channels. Mexicans don't go out for pro football or the NBA. Baseball maybe,but still not that much. Soccer is there,but I can bet you the soccer stadiums will be empty the night "Canelo" Alvarez tries to wrest the title from Floyd Mayweather.



Outside the Monica 4 Theater in Santa Monica before the premier of El Boxeo



Maria Esty,Monica Farris and friend




Tiger Smalls and family with my pal Rick Farris

[CNorkusJr]

Boxeo Mexicano

Took a drive up to Santa Monica this morning to watch the premier of Alan Swyder's documentary "El Boxeo." Rick Farris comped me and Maria with guest passes. At these boxing events in LA. I see the usual cast of ex fighters: Armando Muniz,"Gato" Gonzalez,Bobby Chacon,Frankie Duarte,Carlos Palomino. It was good to see old pals like Jeri and Randy De La O and Rick's wife Monica. Tiger Smalls made it up there with his son Prince and Tiger's wife and young daughter.

My take on the documentary might have been even more focused on the Mexican fighter. I'm talking about the Mexican national. LA. at one time was a mecca for the local Chicano fighter against the Mexican national. Like some of the comments by the ex Chicano fighters in the film-the crowd whether Chicano or Mexican national always pulled for the native Mexican.

I don't want to get into the obvious facts and records of those fights and careers,but the bottom line is if you erase the Mexican(national and Chicano)from the boxing scene,the sport is finished in this country. Back east the interest is dead. There are no American heavyweights who are making an impact. Mexicans are keeping things going in the boxing world,at least in this country.They are the fighters,the fans at ringside,and the ones shelling out the money to watch it on pay TV. Pay For View would go out of business today if the Mexican boxing fan didn't want to shell out his dough.That's why Floyd Mayweather is getting 41.5 million dollars. He can thank the Mexican audience.

I don't think boxing fans back east are interested seeing two Mexicans fight each other,but eventually that's what it's coming to. How many more fights does Mayweather and Pacquiao have in them?By the way ,who's going to watch PacMan fight Timothy Bradley?

But in a way I'm glad it's this way. Maybe the big time promoters will feel a hit,but they've been part of the problem by diminishing the local fight cards and venues and the all the fights we'd used see on the major networks each week. But Mexicans will find the fights on TV on the obscure cable channels. Mexicans don't go out for pro football or the NBA. Baseball maybe,but still not that much. Soccer is there,but I can bet you the soccer stadiums will be empty the night "Canelo" Alvarez tries to wrest the title from Floyd Mayweather.



Outside the Monica 4 Theater in Santa Monica before the premier of El Boxeo



Maria Esty,Monica Farris and friend




Tiger Smalls and family with my pal Rick Farris

Thanks for the pictures and brief story on todays "El Boxeo" events. I know Rick worked hard on getting this documentary out and fighting of some last minute obstacles, but with good strong support, it looks like all went well.

Your comments on East Coast Boxing ring some what true, but maybe you dont know what kind of boxing is taking place here in NY. Maybe because its not of hispanic boxing in nature in some regards, therefore word doesnt get back to you guys there. I feel boxing is just as strong here as it is there right now. With the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn , came a new 12 boxing show contract with Golden Boy Productions. It is not exclusive to Golden Boy either. Bob Arum and other poromoters have been putting on shows there as well. The biggest cards (Championship cards) are selling out. Priced right and not featured on PPV, Hopkins, Adamek, Quillin and several East Coast Champs are making a go at it here. You are correct in one aspect though. We dont get over saturated with Hispanic cards here. I would say 60 % black contenders,40 % hispanic and rest white or other predominate here. Those are the bigger cards and they are strong. Barclay Center has stole some spotlight from the Garden, but now the Garden booked a few big cards to compete.

Small club boxing here is alive. Joe DiGuardia, Bob Duffy and others have sold out numerous local shows here and NYC featuring upcoming talent that will be seen and heard on major TV's, like ESPN and HBO. John Duddy (now retired) was one who came up locally, Peter Quillin now has moved up and you can view many fights from upstate NY and Jersey Casinos with Harold Letterman duing the scoring at many. Just as many as he does in California.

I do agree with you that many Mexicans are fighting in Mexico and California, but the East Coast features mostly East Coast guys and will bring in Danny Garcia and Arreola to fill out cards here. But East Coast Boxing thrives, probably as much as California shows do now. What drove the big bouts away from here to Dallas and other American Cities was NY tax rates hit boxers hard. Coupled with European Champions fighting overseas, its not what it use to be, but it does make money here.

Here's a new card just announced:
http://view.email1.msg.com/?j=fece15707 ... 017b7d&r=0

[dagosd2000]

Bread

I asked my nephew if there was a good place to eat seafood close by. Jiquilpan is only about 15 minutes away from Mexico's largest lake,Chapala.
"I know a place that's in this small town that sticks out like a little finger into the water."
"Well let's go,"I said.
I had a taste for some fresh fish. We drove in my nephew's car along the shoreline of Lake Chapala passing lonely little towns. Everything is very pretty,but prettiness doesn't put food on the table. These people are being beaten down.My thoughts of a good meal couldn't erase the fact that most people down there can't afford to eat like we were going to do in a few minutes.

My nephew turned off the main road onto a bumpy dirt trail. There was a sign at the turnoff that read"Petatan." Petatan was even smaller than the towns we passed along the way. If a hundred people lived there it was a miracle. The two or three roads in the town were also unpaved. My nephew drove slowly because he didn't want to damage the undercarriage of the car. He stopped the car next to a little store .
"The restaurant is across the road,"he said pointing.
I couldn't see the restaurant.I could smell the water and hear the water birds screaching. There was a small passage way between some houses that led to the restaurant. A painted sign above the door read "El Pesacador."

It didn't look like a restaurant from the outside or the inside. The concrete block structure with a cement floor made the place seem very hollow inside. A tin roof covered the high ceiling.There was a patio outside that overlooked the lake.Chairs and tables were stacked on top of each other. A small row of fishing boats with outboard motors lined the muddy shore. I could smell the odor of gasoline. Some cranes flew low above the water squawking loudly. We sat inside because there was a gray cloud cover moving in.

We were with the wives. There was family with a bunch of little kids sitting at a table across from us. I asked my nephew what he would recommend to eat. He ordered for us. The waitress came over. She looked tired and didn't smile,but was very proficient. My nephew ordered grilled carp and fillets of talapia. The waitress brought over plates of mangos,cucumber,and hicama.Limes,unrefined salt ,and chiles were the garnishes. In a basket were hot corn tortillas.I ordered mineral water to drink.The others ordered sodas.

The fish was grilled on an open flame . I had the talapia fillets. The others had the carp.They had to pick through the bones. I tasted some of my wife's carp. The meat was very sweet.There was a lot of food. We were very satisfied.

I saw an old man carrying a basket walk into the restaurant. The basket was loaded to the top with rolls and pastries. My wife suggested to me to pick out some of the bread.
"You'll like this,"said my wife.
Well I had eaten plenty of Mexican baked goods and I liked them very much. I picked out a roll.
"That is a butter roll,"said my wife.
I chomped into the bread. I couldn't believe the taste. It was like eating butter. The softest most tender bread I had ever eaten. The taste was sweet and wonderfull.
"This is incredible,"I said stlll chewing.
"Try another,"said my wife.
I randomly pulled out a roll.
"That is canela,"said my wife.
Again the taste was unbelivable. Flaky and tender. The cinnamon was fresh and the aroma piqued my nostrils.
"What is the difference with this pastry?"I asked my wife.
"It was baked in a brick oven heated by mesquite wood."

Now I've tasted bake goods in Paris and Rome and Bavaria. New York and Chicago and New Orleans.I've never tasted anything that could match what I had eaten in Petatan,Michoacan. I'm sure the locals are well accustomed to it.

As we drove out of that little town,I saw a group of men sitting along the soccer field. There were drunk drinking out those big Corona "cahuamas."It looked like they had been there all day. Their grizzled faces stared at us as we drove by. They must have known we were strangers.

[dagosd2000]

La India Maria

[dagosd2000]

Checking Out

"I think this Alvarez kid is nervous,"I said to Ed the bartender as he put my glass of beer on the coaster.
"It's his biggest fight so far,"said Ed turning on the television set.
"The boy is a polite kid.Doesn't speak any English.He's getting caught up in it."
"Fighting Mayweather in Las Vegas is about as intense as it can get."
I was glancing at the television. ESPN Sports Center was on. It was an analysis of last weeks NFL games.
"You know I could be just a good Monday night quarterback as these guys,"said Ed laughing.
"That's why I don't watch this stuff."
As I was glancing at the TV,I noticed the trailer at the bottom of the screen. "Boxing " popped up and I focused my eyes on what was going to be said.
"My eyes are bad Ed.What does it say at the bottom of the screen?"
"It says Oscar DeLaHoya has just checked himself into a rehab center and won't be at the fight in Las Vegas."
"He's Alvarez's promoter isn't he?"
"Yes he is."
I swallowed some beer.
"That kid don't need that kind of news. He feels lonely enough. Now Oscar runs this by him,"I said.
"You think DeLa Hoya could have waited until after the fight to check himself in."
"He'll get his cut whether he's in or out of the hospital."
"I guess he doesn't care about Alvarez standing there holding his dick in his hand,"said Ed wiping off the bar with a towel.
"You think DeLaHoya wouldn't want to distract his boy just before a big fight like this."
Ed topped off my beer from the spigot.
"Something tells me he wanted to,"I said.




Oscar De La Hoya

[Randyman]

Jeri and I with our good friends Roger and Maria Esty, this past Sunday at the Monica 4 Laemmle Theater for the screening of "El Boxeo". Great to see you and Maria, Rog!

[Randyman]

Rick Farris and director Alan Swyer with just a few of the fighters that appear in the film, "El Boxeo". Both the film and Sunday's event were a success. An amazing film.


Let to right: Bobby Chacon, Alex Ramos, Frankie Duarte, Mando Muniz, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Rick Farris, Alan Swyer, Art Frias and Rudy Hernandez.